AIMS Agriculture and Food最新文献

Plant-based beverages (PBBs) represent a growing global alternative to cow's milk. However, their development is strongly influenced by consumers' expectations of new foods introduced into the diet: environmental sustainability, balanced nutritional content, health aspects, and organoleptic properties. This study analyzes consumers' preferences and choice orientations towards plant-based beverages through the assessment of their eating style and concern towards environmental and health issues. To that end, an online questionnaire was conducted with a sample of 233 respondents living in the South-East area of Italy. Initially, principal component analyses were performed to identify distinct dimensions of individuals' orientation towards food quality, environment and health involvement. Then, the emerging dimensions were used as dependent variables for ANOVA comparisons between consumers and non-consumers of plant-based beverages, considering also individuals' preferences towards different PBBs. The main results showed a strong consumer concern for environmental sustainability issues, which was found as the main purchasing driver for plant-based beverage consumers. On the other hand, many respondents stated that they do not consume PBBs due to their negative organoleptic aspects and the unfamiliarity with these products. Furthermore, the individual's dietary style influences the consumption of plant-based beverages and, in particular, the search for nutritional and balanced compounds plays a key role in consumption choices. Finally, despite that the almonds cultivation for the traditional 'almond milk' production is typical in various Italian regions, consumers expressed averagely a weak connection with this product. In conclusion, considering our results, the market development of PPBs at a national level might be supported by marketing strategies dedicated to different individuals' profiles. At the same time, however, direct actions on the production process are needed to improve the organoleptic profile of these products and meet the dissatisfaction expressed by consumers.

Entrepreneurial contexts may be marked by the presence of a 'cultural environment' that stimulates knowledge and innovation adoption, while other contexts may act as barriers toward change and innovation. Moreover, multiple paths of multifunctional agriculture bring about a call for "multifunctional farm advisory services" (MFAS), which consider both private and public goods provided by the farming sector. Set against the background of multiple roles of agriculture, how to identify sound and pertinent knowledge becomes of paramount, to specify the roles of agricultural extensionists and the mechanisms of governance of MFAS within the setting up of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). Our aim of the study is either to analyze attitudes toward the privatization of extension services within a predominantly public system of regional governance and to identify advisors' profile and their suitability with the modern vision of multifunctional agriculture through the emergence of MFAS. Empirical analysis evidences the presence of a diversified set of advisory services with different degrees of coherence with the multifunctional agricultural model. Also, the more advisory services are oriented towards empowering multifunctional agriculture the less the propensity towards their privatization. The cluster analysis has demonstrated a relatively good advisor's capability to deal with the new demands of multifunctional agriculture. The idea of MFAS has important theoretical implications that the paper tries to excavate through the analysis of the mechanisms of governance (public/private) and the identification of the advisors' profile facing the growing complexity of the farming sector, grounded on multifunctional agriculture. The study tries to fill a gap in the literature, by providing an original contribution to modeling the profile of advisors in charge of supporting the transition towards multifunctionality.

The accumulation of chemical fertilizers that harm the environment is one of the major Indonesian agricultural problems. However, it still has less effect on potato production and yield. The discovery and use of bacteria that have the potential as plant growth-promoting agents (PGPR) is a breakthrough that can help to increase growth to increase production, especially in potato plants. In this study, several bacteria successfully isolated from the rhizosphere and root tissue of potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) were isolated from potato farms in Plaosan Village. Several in vitro screenings were carried out to assess the functional activity of plant growth promoters, including the IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) production test, siderophore production test, ACC (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate) deaminase production test and phosphate dissolution test. Based on the screening results, five isolates were considered as the best inoculants, there are R1.3, R2.2, JR2.1, E1.2 and E1.2.1. All R1.3, R2.2, E1.2 and E1.2.1 isolates were known to have the ability to produce phytohormones IAA, ACC deaminase, and siderophores. In contrast, JR2.1 isolate was not known to have the ability to fix nitrogen and produce IAA, ACC deaminase and siderophores. These isolates could be used as potential biofertilizer inoculants and provide a step towards sustainable agriculture.